Watkins and David Solis, former director of state and federal programs, interviewed in a special meeting Tuesday. All board members except for David Davenport nominated Watkins.

Balancing the budget and school safety will be top priorities, Watkins said.

"We have got to have a balanced budget .. we need to get a handle on our deficit and create a surplus," Watkins said.

Board President Antoinette Lockett said the board will work with Watkins to select a start date, which will have to be before the end of January, when outgoing superintendent Linda Thompson's 90-day notice is up. Watkins, who retired in August, said he's ready to start as soon as possible.

Watkins also said he is interested in taking his role beyond the interim spot and, like Thompson did, transition into the permanent superintendent job.

Watkins said he expects to earn $1 more than the what highest paid administrator behind him makes while an interim superintendent.

"I believe in leading by example," he said.

Should he be selected to be the permanent superintendent, Watkins said his salary can be negotiated at that time.

Watkins graduated from Flint Central High School in 1971 and then graduated from Hillsdale College on a football scholarship in 1975. He's worked for the district, in some capacity, "since I was 14 years of age," he said. He was a locker room attendant in high school.

After college, Watkins became varsity wrestling coach at Central High. In 1986, he became staff assistant for pupil personnel services. He held several other positions in the administration office before retiring as director of pupil personnel services earlier this year. He also served as director of school safety and security.

Solis, a Texas native, spent 27 years with the district. He also worked for the Michigan Department of Education as a consultant and for Congressman Dale Kildee, working on education and labor legislation, he said. At Flint schools, he was director of state and federal programs, assistant director of state and federal programs, a teacher, vocational education administrator and assistant principal.